By Kirk Douglas"More than my father's final memoir...a heartfelt and funny book in which he shares the lessons he has learned." —Michael Douglas "I'm so proud of my father-in-law for having written this wonderful new book." —Catherine Zeta-Jones He has been one of the brightest stars in Hollywood, a hard-charging actor whose intensity on the screen has been mirrored in his personal life. Remarkably, Kirk Douglas celebrated his 90th birthday in December. He has become more reflective over the years, especially after his recovery from a near-fatal helicopter crash and a stroke. Now, in his astonishing new memoir, Douglas ponders what life is all about, weighing events from his current contemplative frame of mind while summoning up the passions of his younger, more reckless self. In LET’S FACE IT: 90 Years of Living, Loving, and Learning, Kirk Douglas explores the joys and sadness of growing older, looks back at his childhood, his young adulthood, and his storied and colourful life in Hollywood, speaks out on contemporary events and issues, and shares favourite jokes and hard-won insights. He reveals the secrets that have kept him and his wife, Anne, happily married for more than five decades and he talks fondly and movingly of times spent with his sons and grandchildren. He reminisces about his friends—Burt Lancaster, Frank Sinatra, and Fred Astaire, among others, many of whom are no longer with us. He shows how his Jewish faith has deepened and become more and more important to him with the years. And he offers strong opinions on everything from Michael Moore, Mel Gibson, and President Jimmy Carter to corporate greed, racism, Hurricane Katrina, education, and the war in Iraq. A must-read for every fan, this engrossing memoir provides an indelible self-portrait of a great star at 90—while sharing the wit and wisdom Kirk Douglas has accumulated over a lifetime.
About the Author
Kirk Douglas (Beverly Hills, CA) has been a major Hollywood star for six decades. He has appeared in more than 70 films and has been nominated for an Academy Award three times, for Champion, The Bad and the Beautiful, and Lust for Life. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981, a special Oscar in 1996, and the National Medal of the Arts in 2001. Douglas is the author of three previous bestselling memoirs—The Ragman’s Son, Climbing the Mountain, and My Stroke of Luck—as well as three novels and two children’s books.
Kirk Douglas is available for interviews in New York w/c 19th March 2007.
About Wiley:
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfil their aspirations. Our core businesses include scientific, technical, and medical journals; encyclopaedias, books, and online products and services; professional and consumer books and subscription services; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley’s global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company’s Web site is www.wiley.com. Wiley is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb. Lets Face It